the summationpresident’s message by: steve hoar 401 se 6th street, suite 101 the law is a...
TRANSCRIPT
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By: Steve Hoar
The law is a conservative profession. The common law has the capacity to
evolve, but only gradually over time. Under the doctrine of stare decisis, courts are
reluctant to change established legal principles. Lawyers must cite authority in
support of their arguments. There is good reason for this cautious, slow-to-change
approach: established rules allow members of society to rely on the law in bringing
predictability to the conduct of their affairs. The world outside the legal profession, however, is not conservative in its
approach to change. Change is fast-paced. Technology is disruptive. Everyone
wants information in real-time. The rapidity of change in the Information Age sometimes causes
dissonance when it collides with a legal culture predicated on precedent. This story is not new. Bar association social events are rife with accounts of how there were
no computers, email, or digital research back in the day. But like Moore’s Law, which predicts that
computing power will double every two years, the pace of change in the legal profession is accelerating
at an exponential rate. In the mid-1990s, legal futurists envisioned that email would become the primary mode of
communication between lawyers and clients. Some in the profession criticized this idea as dangerous
because it was a threat to information security and lawyer-client confidentiality. We know which side
won that argument. According to IBM, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every day. 90% of all data was
created within the past two years. Lawyers must deal with this data explosion when managing discovery,
conducting due diligence, and performing legal research. Westlaw and Lexis were at the forefront of the
legal data revolution with their compilation of and ability to search legal authority. E-discovery services,
helping lawyers deal with the massive amounts of electronic data produced in the course of a lawsuit,
have been around for more than a decade. Now there is Ross. Ross is the child of Watson, the IBM supercomputer that beat the greatest
of the Jeopardy! champions. Ross accesses Watson’s cloud platform to answer plain English legal
questions. Ross began as a project by college students, but is now funded by one of the world’s largest
law firms and is being offered to clients. Are lawyers doomed to obsolescence? Will we serve our robot overlords? Even Ross’s
purveyors are not that ambitious. They want to help lawyers do more in less time thereby bringing
down costs for consumers. Direct-to-consumer online legal service providers say they have similar aspirations. Some
purport to answer legal questions for as little as $4.95. One might question the quality of legal advice
that costs $4.95. Without doubt, litigants and others with legal problems who are not assisted by counsel are
increasing. If their income is low enough, they may qualify for help from Indiana Legal Services, Legal Aid,
or VLP. But others who are above the income cutoff may nonetheless think they cannot afford an
attorney. They are probably not taking into consideration how much the absence of counsel’s advice
might cost them in the long run. It is a certainty that the legal profession will not stop the march of technology. Equally certain is
that no computer is able to replace a seasoned lawyer’s judgment, responsive communication, and skills
of persuasion. The challenge for lawyers is to find the right balance by harnessing technology to
maximize efficiency while preserving the acumen, guidance, and personal service that are the hallmarks of
our profession.
The Monthly Newsletter of the Evansville Bar Association May 2016
The
Summation
401 SE 6th Street, Suite 101
Evansville, IN 47713
812-463-3201
www.evvbar.org
Inside this issue:
EBA News
2
Bar Updates
3
Committee and
Section Meetings
EBF
CLE Offerings
EBA Calendar
3
4
6
7
Page 2 Page 2 Page 2
EBA ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2016
5:00PM - EBA Office
ALL EBA Members are invited to join in for election of the EBA Board of
Directors, a very short annual meeting and FREE adult
refreshments
SPEAKERS BUREAU - A Community Outreach
EBA needs your expertise!! As a community outreach, the EBA offers to provide various
groups with speakers on a wide variety of legal topics
through a program called the EBA Speakers Bureau.
For example, a senior citizens group may require
information on advance health care directives, options for
estate planning, or preserving their financial assets.
Neighborhood groups might ask for a speaker on zoning law
or real estate issues, and a high school may ask for a speaker
on laws that affect young people, law as a career, buying
your first car, etc. So please join the list of speakers!
Contact Susan at [email protected] or
Call (812) 463-3201
Short Term Volunteer Opportunity
ORAL HISTORIES
of
SENIOR ATTORNEYS
“A lawyer’s time and advice are his stock in trade.”
- Abraham Lincoln Would you be willing to volunteer to interview
a seasoned attorney to add to our oral history collection?
It just might be a wonderful experience and it will help preserve something valuable for our
profession and our organization.
Contact Susan at [email protected] or call (812) 463-
3201
News From the Volunteer Lawyer Program By Judge Greg Smith and Magistrate Sheila Corcoran
At the last EBA luncheon, we celebrated and honored Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald and Hahn with the Susan K. Helfrich
Award for Excellence in Pro Bono. In accepting the award on behalf of the firm, Laura Scott encouraged other firms to find ways
to engage in pro bono activity. One way is to sponsor one of the Talk To A Lawyer nights by providing the paralegals, volunteer
attorneys and food for the evening. Other ways can be to encourage associates to take a case that puts them in a court-
room. The associate gains valuable courtroom experience, the pro bono client is well represented and the courts appreciate
one less unrepresented litigant. Want to do some pro bono but not sure how it fits within the firm? Contact VLP and we’re
sure an idea and plan can be devised.
Also, during the luncheon, those attorneys who provided 50 hours or more of pro bono service during 2015 were
honored. Those attorneys are: Allyson Breeden, Susan Wilkie, Sarah Fandrey, Mark Miller, Wm. Royal Gearhart,
Marcy Groves, Mark Foster, James Casey, Keith Wallace, David L. Jones, Kathryn Kornblum, Tim Hambidge,
Joe Langerak, Katherine Rybak, Molly Briles, Katherine Vanost-Jones, Scott Wylie, Tracy Thread and Beverly
Corn. Earlier in the month, a celebration occurred in Knox County, recognizing: Dave Roellgen, Jeff Kolb and Yvette
Kirchoff. There were several lawyers who were close to 50 hours, but didn’t quite reach the goal. This is a great list of
volunteer attorneys, but we believe this district can do better for 2016. Here’s the challenge – let’s increase this number by
50%. Need help figuring out a way to get 50 hours? Contact VLP and they’ll help you in anyway they can.
Thank you to all who were honored and for all volunteers out there who give of their time and talents.
LAWYERS LUNCH CLUB “Take 2”
Approximately 60 attorneys joined the first round and have enjoyed
getting to know each other.
We are getting ready to put new groups together.
Want to join the fun???
Sign up to join the lawyers lunch club! The Membership Taskforce will place members in fun groups of 6, making sure each group contains a great mix of experience, practice area etc. Just e-mail [email protected] or call 463.3201 to join the club!
Page 3 Bar Updates: Welcome to attorney member Sylvia
Freels and student member Kristen Koewler.
Please make the following changes and additions to
your address book:
Sylvia Freels
Mead Johnson & Company LLC
2400 W Lloyd Expressway
Evansville, IN 47721
(812) 429-5361
William G. Hussmann Jr.
Kightlinger & Gray, LLP
7220 Eagle Crest Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47715
(812) 474-4400 ext 6317
Classified Advertising
HOOK BUSINESS SERVICES - ARE YOU A SOLE
PRACTICTIONER, ARE YOU SHORT-STAFFED, OR DO
YOU NEED PARALEGAL, BILLING OR BOOKKEEPING
SERVICES WITHOUT HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF? IF SO,
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT MARY ELLEN AT (812) 774-3239
OR BY EMAIL AT [email protected] I AM A MEMBER OF THE EBA WITH 38 YEARS OF LEGAL
EXPERIENCE IN THE EVANSVILLE AREA AND I AM A
NOTARY PUBLIC. I WOULD WELCOME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HELP WITH ANY OF YOUR
BUSINESS NEEDS. SERVICES WILL BE BILLED AT AN
HOURLY RATE WITH A QUICK TURNAROUND, IN-
CLUDING PICK UP AND DELIVERY SERVICE WHEN NEC-
ESSARY. .
Page 3
Chapman Injury Lawyers
420 Main Street, Suite 1202
Evansville, IN 47708
812.426.0600
Neil Chapman
Steve Thomas
Noah Thomas
Vanstone and Kornblum
New E-mail
Committee/Section Meetings
05/03 Family Law Section Meeting, Noon -
EBA Office
05/04 Solo/Small Firm Section Meeting,
Noon - EBA Office
05/11 Probate, Elder Law & Guardianship
Section Meeting, Noon - EBA Office
05/17 Real Property Section Meeting, Noon
- EBA Office
Lawyers Assistance Program Lawyers, judges, and law students in Southwestern
Indiana have local and state resources available to help
them with issues that could impair their ability to
practice law.
At a local level, the Lawyers Assistance Committee
consists of Michele Bryant, Judge Wayne Trockman,
Chris Lenn, David Sanders, Toby Shaw, Doug Briody,
Keith Wallace and Susan Vollmer. This Committee
meets regularly and works with JLAP and other volun-
teers to provide confidential assistance to members
of the legal community in need. If you or someone
you know is struggling with an impairment issue, do
yourself or your friend a favor and contact JLAP or a
member of the local Committee.
Local Volunteers Contact Information:
Michele Bryant: [email protected]
Judge Trockman: [email protected]
Toby Shaw: [email protected]
David Sanders: [email protected]
Christian Lenn: [email protected]
Susan Vollmer: [email protected]
Doug Briody: [email protected]
Keith Wallace: [email protected]
Employment Opportunities
Salaried Trial Attorney Position. Contact Law Offices of Steven K.
Deig, LLC, 5615 E. Virginia Street, Evansville, Indiana 47715,
812-477-5577. All inquiries confidential.
Katie Worman, President
Recently, the Evansville Bar Foundation board voted to change the grant cycle effective with the 2016 cycle. Beginning this year, all grant requests will be due between July 1 and July 31. In addition, the grants will be awarded at a special lunch this year, to be held on September 21, 2016. All guidelines and policies can be found at www.evvbar.org under the Foundation tab. If you feel that you or an organization you are connected to have a need that qualifies under the guidelines, we encourage you to submit a request.
Page 4
COURTVIEW CONFERENCE CENTER Suite 505 Curtis Building - Available for Attorney Rental
Private free-standing 500+ sq. ft. corner office conference room
available for weekly, daily, and half day rental. Ideal for use during jury
trials, bench trials, client meetings, depositions, pre-trial/settlement
conferences, witness preparation and board meetings. Conference Center overlooks and is a one minute walk to the
Vanderburgh County Courthouse and the Vanderburgh County Civic
Center. Three minute walk to the Federal Courthouse. Conference Center includes private keyed entrance, 10 person
conference table, secure high speed wireless and wired internet, 55”
UHDTV with Bluetooth sound system, wireless copier/scanner,
complimentary bottled water, tablet/cell phone charging stations,
additional seating and secure document shredding. Curtis Building amenities include ample free parking, same floor
restrooms, and breakfast/lunch catering to Conference Center, when
available, from the on premise antique Caboose diner. For
reservations or additional information, please contact:
Massey Law Offices, LLC
(812) 491-9333
915 Main St., Suite 502, Evansville, IN 47708
www.masseylawoffices.com
WHAT’S NEW @ THE LAW LIBRARY?
The following volumes are currently missing from the Law
Library:
ALR, Fifth Series, volumes 85 and 106
ALR, Sixth Series, volume 6
Indiana Law Encyclopedia, volume 3
If you happened to remove any of these items from the Law
Library and still have them in your possession, please return
them at your earliest convenience so that others may use them.
No questions asked!
Thank you, Helen Reed, Law Librarian
Lead Counsel Foster, O’Daniel, Hambidge & Lynch
LLP
Steve Hoar
P. Michael Mitchell
Brian and Barbara Williams
Court Counsel
James Casey
Charles Hewins
Michael Land
Krista Lockyear
Terry Noffsinger
Dirck Stahl
Attorney of Record
Steve Barber
Erin Bauer
Diane Bender
D. Timothy Born
Allyson Breeden
John Brinson
Thomas Bryan
Michelle Bryant
W. Charles Bussing III
Attorney of Record (cont)
Hon. Richard G. D’Amour
Kevin Gibson
David Hatfield
G. Michael Schopmeyer
Philip Siegel
Dan Tuley
Heath Tuley
John Whinrey
Joseph Michael Woods
Sarah Woods & Javier Lugo
Scott Wylie
New Attorney (0-3 Years)
Lindsay Charles
Steven Charles
Ryan Hatfield
Brandon Powell
Erin Schmitt
Patrick Thomas
Paralegal
Barbara VanZant
“2016 CONTRIBUTORS” Thank you to those that have contributed to the John L.
Sanders Memorial - Evansville Bar Foundation in 2016.
Still Plenty of time to add your name to the list!
JOHN L. SANDERS
(the answer to last month’s question:
“Can you name this man?”)
The Evansville Bar Foundation was
formed in 1999 due to a generous donation
from Evelyn Sanders, the widow of John L.
Sanders who practiced law in Evansville for
75 years.
(Photo provided by Charles A. Spaetti)
DIVERSITY ROUNDTABLE
Tuesday, May 10 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
EBA Office
Lack of diversity in your organization is affecting your bottom line. Clients are leaving Evansville
to seek legal representation in Bloomington and Indianapolis because their perception is that
there are not attorneys in Evansville that understand their cultures or their needs.
In an attempt to help you better serve the increasingly diverse Evansville population, the EBA Diversity Committee is inviting you
to participate in a roundtable discussion facilitated by Mark Sebree.
Understanding diversity: racial, ethnic, cultural, economic background, gender, and sexual orientation.
Effect of new medical school and the face of our changing community
Increasing efforts to educate staff and attorneys
Economic benefits of increasing diversity and inclusion efforts within your business
Representing the different aspects of our community within your businesses
Benefits of creating in-house committees focusing on Diversity and Inclusion
Effect of business leaving the Evansville area due to the lack of diverse members in law firms and businesses
Seating is limited. RSVP to [email protected] or 812.463.3201. Event is Free.
Job Well Done to All Who Worked So Hard to Make
Law Week 2016 a Success!!
Law Day Celebration Co-Chairs
Meagan Brien and Trisha Dudlo
Mock Trials
Lori Underwood, Chair
Will Cartwright, Vice-Chair
Student Lunch Co-Chairs
Thomas Clowers and Aaron Trump
Awards Committee
Monica Edwards, Jimmy Gentry, Terry White
Cathy Nestrick, Lane Siesky, Laura Scott,, Elissa Hewins
Editorial Board
Max Fiester, Chair
Judge Carl Heldt, Doug Briody, Clay Havill, Yvette LaPlante
Mark Miller, Dan Robinson, Kathryn Sullivan, and
Shawn Sullivan
Special Thanks to the
Volunteer Attorneys
And Judges for the Mock Trials
Judge Kiely
Judge D’Amour
Judge Lloyd
Judge Shively
Judge Tornatta
Magistrate Hussmann
Magistrate Cox
Molly Briles
Brett Bueltel
Will Cartwright
Patrick Duff
Craig Emig
Royal Gearhart
Javier Lugo
Matt Malcolm
Keaton Miller
Drew Pittman
Brandon Powell
Alex Scates
Kyle Sawa
Cliff Whitehead
Our Sincere Appreciation to Those Who
Underwrote the Student Lunch
Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald & Hahn Wilfred C. Bussing 111
Hon. Richard D’Amour Danks & Danks
Frick Powell Jon Goldman
Charles Hewins & Richard Steedman Katharine Jones & Carrie Miller
Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn Keating & LaPlante
Massey Law Offices Old National Bank - Legal Dept.
Alex Schmitt for County Commissioner Stone & Stratman
Terrell, Baugh, Salmon & Born Woods & Woods
Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders Bob Zoss Law Office
Another BIG Thank You to our
Sponsors!
Gold
Old National Bank
Tri-State Reporting, Inc
Silver
Blue & Co
Bingham Greenebaum Doll
New Horizons Financial Consultants
Ritman & Associates
Bronze
Alphagraphics Amy Brandsasse– Professional Guardian
Ad Litem Services
LexisNexis
Stewart Richardson
Also to:
Matt Wagner Design For donating the beautiful invitation
design
Page 6
EBA Women Attorneys Section presents
A Professional Development Workshop
with Carol Frohlinger, J.D. President of Negotiating Women, Inc. www.negotiatingwomen.com
May 5, 2016
Tropicana Conference Center Looking forward to this SOLD OUT event
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
SILVER
BRONZE
Catherine A. Nestrick
Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting
1 Ethic CLE
Wednesday, June 15
Noon - EBA Office
Speaker: Magistrate Judge Graham Polando
Cost is $30 for EBA Members and $50 for Non-members
Register on-line at www.evvbar.org email [email protected] or
call 812-463-3201.
EBA Business and Commercial Law Section presents
Annual “Breakfast with the
Judge”
1 CLE
Wednesday, May 18
8:00AM
YWCA - Parlor
The annual “Breakfast with the Judge,” featuring the
Hon. Basil Lorch, III Registration and Breakfast, 7:30AM, 8:00AM Start
Cost is $30 for Business and Commercial Law Section Members;
$35 for EBA Members and $50 for Non-members and includes
breakfast.
Register on-line at www.evvbar.org email
[email protected] or call 812-463-3201.
MAY CALENDARMAY CALENDAR
05/03 Family Law Section Meeting, Noon - EBA Office
05/04 Solo/Small Firm Section Meeting, Noon - EBA Office
05/05 A Professional Development Workshop with Carol Frohlinger, 10:00AM - Tropicana Conference
Center
05/05 Talk to a Lawyer, 4:30 PM - EBA Office
05/10 Diversity and Inclusion Roundtable, 8:00 AM - EBA Office
05/11 Probate, Elder Law & Guardianship Section Meeting, Noon - EBA Office
05/12 EBA Morning Mixer, 7:30ish - Donut Bank on Hwy 41 & Lincoln
05/12 EBA Board of Directors Meeting, 11:30AM - Biaggis
05/17 Real Property Section Meeting, Noon - EBA Office
05/18 Breakfast with Judge Lorch 1 CLE, 8:00 AM - YWCA Parlor
05/19 EBF Board of Directors Meeting, Noon - EBF Office
UPCOMING EBA SPONSORED VIDEO REPLAYSUPCOMING EBA SPONSORED VIDEO REPLAYS
(all video replays are held in the EBA Office)(all video replays are held in the EBA Office)
06/23 Anatomy of a Jury Trial 7 CLE (pre-approved for IN and KY CLE) - 8:30AM start
UPCOMING ICLEF VIDEO REPLAYSUPCOMING ICLEF VIDEO REPLAYS
For reservations, pricing, or to verify credits or content for the ICLEF video replays, please contact ICLEF at (317) 637-9102
or visit www.iclef.org.
05/09 Complexities of UCC Article 9 Simplified, 6 CLE
06/20 How to Understand and Analyze Financial Statements, 6 CLE
06/22 Medicaid for the Elderly and Aged in Indiana, 6 CLE
07/11 Municipal Law Update, 6 CLE
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